Two teams from the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Devon) were finalists at the prestigious HSJ Digital Awards for their innovative use of digital technology to improve patient care.    

The HSJ Digital awards celebrate the best digital healthcare projects from across the country and invited finalists to an award ceremony in London on Thursday 26 June 2025. 

The Ophthalmology department were recognised for a new way of diagnosing patients with suspected glaucoma. The team introduced a virtual review which has reduced the average waiting time from nine months just to five weeks for a first appointment. 

Liz Wilkinson, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Director at the Centre of Excellence for Eyes (CEE) said, “We developed this way of working at the CEE at the Nightingale Hospital, Exeter and have since rolled it out across Eastern and Northern Devon. We’re even sharing our learning with Trusts across the UK.  

Glaucoma is a common condition that can lead to sight-loss if it’s not diagnosed and treated early, so reducing waiting times is truly life-changing for patients across Devon and beyond.” 

A second project from the Royal Devon was also recognised at the ceremony.  

The Acute Hospital at Home team (AHAH) team were finalists for their pioneering use of wearable devices. Enabling patients to have round-the-clock clinical monitoring and support from the comfort of their own homes in rural Devon.  

The service can provide patients with wearable devices like Apple watches to monitor symptoms for a seamless “set-it-and-forget-it” patient experience. Royal Devon’s Electronic Patient Record system, Epic, integrates directly with the devices through the online patient portal and app, MY CARE, keeping the clinical team informed every second. 

The team care for approximately 400 patients each month, with patient feedback showing that patients feel safe and cared for.  

Dr Simon Patten, Clinical Director of urgent and emergency care, said “Lots of patients tell us that they prefer this to staying in hospital. We’re in such a rural area and some patients are self-employed or might be looking after a family member or their children. With Acute Hospital at Home they can stay close to family, maintain their social life and even continue working if they want to, while all the time getting the right diagnosis and treatment.” 

Professor Adrian Harris, Chief Medical Officer at Royal Devon said, “These nominations show that we are at the leading edge of providing digitally enabled care at Royal Devon.  

We are using digital to overcome some of the fundamental challenges we face to reduce waiting times for patients and deliver healthcare in a rural area. I’m proud to see our work to transform and improve patient care being recognised nationally in this way.”